Royal News

Tag: Basketball

  • D’Tigress, Cameroon Battle for Semifinal Slot

    D’Tigress, Cameroon Battle for Semifinal Slot

     

    D’Tigress head coach Rena Wakama has called on her players to raise their game as Nigeria prepares to face Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan on Thursday.

    Both Nigeria and Cameroon remain unbeaten in the tournament, setting the stage for a highly competitive showdown.

    Speaking ahead of the clash, Wakama emphasized the importance of improving on their earlier performances, noting that the stakes are now higher.

    “This is the business end of the tournament, and as a team, we know what is at stake. We are following through on our set goals with each game,” she said.

    D’Tigress, the reigning champions, are aiming to continue their dominance, having remained unbeaten in the last four editions of the competition.

  • Coach Wakama Targets Fifth AfroBasket, Olympic Medal

    Coach Wakama Targets Fifth AfroBasket, Olympic Medal

    Head coach of Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, Rena Wakama says her team is determined to retain their continental crown and remain a dominant force in African basketball ahead of the 2025 AfroBasket Championship.

    Speaking during an open training session in Abuja on Sunday, Wakama reaffirmed her team’s short-term goal of winning a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title and a long-term ambition to reach the podium at the Olympics.

    “Short-term goal is to win AfroBasket. Long-term goal is to play on the world stage and get on the podium,” she said.

    The 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket will take place in Ivory Coast from July 26, and Wakama is confident about her team’s preparation and mindset.

    Wakama made history in 2023 by becoming the first female coach to win the AfroBasket title, guiding D’Tigress to their fourth consecutive championship in Rwanda. Under her leadership, the team also reached the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking their best-ever finish at the global event.

    “We have a core group that’s been with me for years. The key is to stay connected and focused. Everyone is coming for us—we know that. We must stay united to overcome any obstacles,” she said.

    Beyond trophies, Wakama emphasized her passion for inspiring young female athletes and called for greater support from fans and stakeholders to grow women’s basketball in Nigeria.

    “Outside of sports, we want to uplift and empower basketball in Nigeria. After these girls are gone, who’s next? We need more support for our young girls,” she appealed.

    Team captain Amy Okonkwo echoed the coach’s optimism, stating that the team is confident, focused, and working hard to compete at the highest level.

    “We’re preparing to win. It’s going to take hard work, but we’re confident. We’re building chemistry and working on both offense and defense,” she said.

    Okonkwo added that the players are excited to be reunited, describing the atmosphere in camp as energetic and determined.

    “We’re just excited to be together again. We have good energy and some new faces. We’re focused and ready to compete in Ivory Coast,” she added.

    Coach Wakama concluded by stating that the team will give their all in every game, regardless of the outcome.

    “If we give our all and win, great. If we give our all and lose, that’s fine too. The goal is always to give 100 percent,” she said.

  • News Flash: D’Tigers crushed again

    News Flash: D’Tigers crushed again


    Nigeria’s D’Tigers lose their third Group B game in the men’s basketball event of the Tokyo Olympics 71-80 to Italy.

    It was their third loss, and they finished bottom of their group.

    More details later.

  • Basketball star, Keyontae Johnson in medically induced coma after collapsing on the court

    Basketball star, Keyontae Johnson in medically induced coma after collapsing on the court

    Florida men’s basketball player, Keyontae Johnson is in a medically induced coma after collapsing during a game over the weekend.

    Johnson, 21, collapsed during a Saturday game between the Gators and Florida State and was taken off the court on a stretcher and transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

    His grandfather, Larry DeJarnett, told USA Today that Johnson has since been transported to Gainesville to continue his treatment and was placed in a coma on Monday.

    “He may have had activity in the brain, so they induced the coma,” DeJarnett said. “They put him on medication to keep him sedated.”

    Johnson, 21, who was voted the SEC’s preseason player of the year, was initially described as being in critical but stable condition when he was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

    It’s unclear what caused Johnson’s collapse with a diagnosis or prognosis yet to be provided.

  • NBA to resume games after player protest, turn stadiums into voting sites

    NBA to resume games after player protest, turn stadiums into voting sites

    NBA players who boycotted games as part of a protest against racial injustice have agreed to resume the playoffs on Saturday in a deal that includes increased access to voting in the U.S. presidential election.

    The league and players association (NBPA) said on Friday.

    As part of the agreement, the NBA and its players will establish a coalition that will focus on access to voting for the Nov. 3 general election, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform.

    “These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts said in a joint statement.

    “We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together – in Orlando and in all NBA team markets – to push for meaningful and sustainable change.”

    The players’ protest began when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court for Game Five of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

    Bucks players said they were unable to focus on basketball due to demonstrations and violence in Kenosha, which is about 40 miles (60 km) south of Milwaukee.

    After the Bucks’ boycott, the NBA postponed all three games on that day’s schedule as well as three on Thursday.

    All 13 teams still on the NBA campus at Disney World in Orlando, a group that includes the defending champion Toronto Raptors and LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers, are practicing on Friday.

    The return-to-play agreement was announced a day after players, coaches and team governors had a candid discussion regarding the next steps to further collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality.

    As part of the agreement, teams who own and control their stadiums will work with local elections officials to convert their facilities into a voting location to allow for a safe in-person voting option for areas vulnerable to COVID-19.

    The novel coronavirus outbreak has pushed a number states to expand mail-in voting.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has been railing against mail-in ballots for months as a possible source of fraud, although millions of Americans – including much of the military – have cast absentee ballots by mail for years without such problems.

    The NBA also said it will work to include advertising spots in each playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.

  • Spain defeats Argentina to win first FIBA World Cup title in 13 years

    Spain defeats Argentina to win first FIBA World Cup title in 13 years

    Spain beats Argentina 95-75 on Sunday to claim the FIBA World Cup title in Wukesong Arena, Beijing. The newly crowned champions lastly won the title in 2006 in Japan defeating Greece 70-47. 

    Since Spain’s last victory the competition has been dominated by U.S.A winning the title twice in a roll. The winners of the two previous world cups could not keep them selves in the competition this time losing to France on Wednesday with 10 points, denying them the opportunity to play in the finals.

    Ricky Rubio the tournament’s MVP made 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Marc Gasol was the backbone of Spain’s defense. Gasol and Rubio leading the Spanish through 8-0 throughout the competition. 

    With this win, Spain has regained its position of being one of the great teams in Europe although the team’s core roaster is aging with no superstars coming up. France and Serbia are also considered as great teams in Europe.